diff --git a/synapse/handlers/user_directory.py b/synapse/handlers/user_directory.py
index 4e568de8c4..43eb1c78e9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/user_directory.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/user_directory.py
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ class UserDirectoyHandler(object):
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.server_name = hs.hostname
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
+        self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
+
+        self.notifier.add_replication_callback(self.notify_new_event)
 
         # When start up for the first time we need to populate the user_directory.
         # This is a set of user_id's we've inserted already
diff --git a/synapse/notifier.py b/synapse/notifier.py
index 6b1709d700..385208b574 100644
--- a/synapse/notifier.py
+++ b/synapse/notifier.py
@@ -167,7 +167,6 @@ class Notifier(object):
 
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.appservice_handler = hs.get_application_service_handler()
-        self.user_directory_handler = hs.get_user_directory_handler()
 
         if hs.should_send_federation():
             self.federation_sender = hs.get_federation_sender()
@@ -255,8 +254,6 @@ class Notifier(object):
             room_stream_id
         )
 
-        preserve_fn(self.user_directory_handler.notify_new_event)()
-
         if self.federation_sender:
             preserve_fn(self.federation_sender.notify_new_events)(
                 room_stream_id